Kane County Health Department launches mental health awareness campaign
A new year-long initiative by the Kane County Health Department is aiming to help residents learn how to access mental health and substance use resources in the county, according to a news release from Kane County.
The new initiative, 'Connect with Kane: Learn, Grow, Thrive,' is meant to increase awareness of, reduce stigma and promote access to mental health and substance use services, according to Thursday's news release. The initiative will also focus on 'affordability strategies' and tools for supporting friends and family with mental health concerns.
'While the reasons behind the increased need for mental health services may be complex, the trends are clear, residents are reporting increasing levels of stress, anxiety and other challenges that can be indicators of mood disorders,' Kane County Health Department Executive Director Michael Isaacson said in the release. 'This year, the Health Department plans to double down on communications around mental health to inform residents about the importance of this aspect of health and all the different resources available to access help for themselves and their loved ones.'
The county said in the release that there was a 31% increase in adult depression rates from 2020 to 2022 in Kane County, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The biggest part of the initiative is the county's Behavioral Health 360 website, which has screening and assessment tools, informational articles, self-help guides and a resource guide of providers in Kane County.
The Health Department program will also create toolkits for community partners focused on combating stigma and helping connect people with professional care or self-help options, for example.
The campaign is a year-long program, according to the release. It is being funded from federal American Rescue Plan dollars allocated by the Kane County Board in 2023.
The campaign will also focus on specific issues like youth mental health, suicide prevention, substance use treatment and harm reduction, according to the release.
'Mental health and substance use impact more than individuals and families, they have a huge impact on entire communities,' president and CEO of the Aurora-based Association for Individual Development Lore Baker said in Thursday's news release. 'When children and teens are struggling, it impacts their school performance and learning; for adults, mental health issues can significantly impact work performance and productivity. The consequences of ignoring these issues are far-reaching for our county and region.'
Residents can contact the Health Department's information and referral specialist at 331-312-0060 or garciatoni@kanecountyil.gov for individual support or help navigating mental health care costs and insurance.
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